Clayton c



(No Model.)

0. o. EERGUSON. AUTOMATIC FEED-REGULATOR.

26 077.: MAY mace fiarizSteam Space 7 rising and falling of the waterand suitable UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLAYTON C. FERGUSON, OF NEYV YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC FEED-REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 486,668, dated November22, 1892.

Application filed March 31, 1892.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CLAYTON C. FERGUSON, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Feed-Regulators andAlarms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for automatically regulating the feed ofwater to boilers and for other purposes; and it consists of a float onthe Wat-er and a valve or valves. for controlling the feed locatedin asteam-space, the valve or valves being controlled by the connections.-.1

This invention relates more specificall y to that method of boiler-feedwherein a pump is used to supply the water, though it is applicable toother methods of feeding water to steam-boilers without the use of apump.

The preferred form of my invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of achamber, the float, the valves, and connections. Fig. 2 is a sectionalview of the valve, and Fig. 3 is a detail.

The chamber A is formed by the cylindrical shell 2 and heads 3 4attached thereto in any usual way. 1 show the bottom head 3 as beingattached by a screw-thread to the shell 2 and the head 4 as being boltedto a flanged ring 5, attached to the shell 2, as by the screwthreads.The bolts and nuts are indicated by the references 6 6. Awater-gage, as7, may be connected with the shell 2 in the usual way. The bottom 3 isshown as having a threaded perforation 8, in which a threaded tube 9fits in a water and steam tight manner, the tube extending above andbelow the bottom 3. Screwing upon the top of tube 9 is the T 10, havingcrossing openings, of which one is a continuation of the tube 9 and theother open's laterally into the chamber A. A perforated plug 11 screwsinto the upper end of the vertical opening and guides the stem of thefloat F. Attached to the downwardly-extending end of tube 9 is a tube12, whose lower end is closed by cap 13, screwed thereto. This tube 12may rest on a suitable floor or beam to support the chamber A andattached parts. There may be a blow-01f cock in tube 12 if desired.Entering tube 12 from one side is Serial 110.427.164. (No model.)

the tube ll from the water-space of the boiler. (Not shown.) The waterpasses from the boiler through tubes 14 12 9 and T into the chamber A,its surface being indicated by lines 8.

The pipe 15 from the steam-space of the boiler passes through the head 4and introduc'es steam in the upper part of chamber A. A valve-casing Vwithin the chamber A is connected with the steam-space of the boiler (orthe steam-pipe) by the pipe 16, which also passes through the head 4. Apipe 17 leads from the valve-casing V through head 4 to the steam-pump.The valve is shown in crosssection in Fig. 2. It consists of a diaphragmh, having a hollow cone-shaped seat d, within which the hollowcone-shaped valve 2; fits and works, the spindlep of the valve fittingin and passing through the diaphragm h and outside the casing. The valveand valve-seat have an equal number of perforations f g, which by therotation or rocking of the valve 1) may be caused to partly or fullyregister and open a passage for the steam or to close and shut off allpassage. The valve is operated by its spindle p. I do not claim theconstruction of the valve thus far described as my invention, nor do Ilimit myself to this or any other form of the valve for use in myinvention. On the spindle p I may place a cam 18, held in place by ascrew-bolt 19, for a purpose hereinafter referred to. On spinple p Iplace an arm 20, held thereto by screwbolt 21, the said arm extendinglaterally and havinga slot 22 therethrough. A nut 23 holds this arm onthe spindle and permits of adjustments for wear, the. The arm passesthrough a slot 24 in the guide-rod or tube 25, fast to the upper side offloat F. A pin or bolt 24, passing through the tube 2% and slot 22,connects the arm and tube. Said tube 25 fits in a tube 26, opening intochamber A through the head 4:, said tube 26 having a closed upper end27. The float F has a rod 28 extending downward from its under side,said rod passing through the perforated plug 11, hereinbefore described.

The operation of the parts thus far described is as follows: Assumingthat the valve has been closed and that the surface of the water beginsto fall, the float F likewise falls and pulls down arm 20, and thusopens the valve 1;, whereupon the steam passes through the valve andpipe 17 to and starts the pump. (Not shown.) As the water enters theboiler the waterin the chamber A will rise, since it is in freecommunication with the water and steam spaces of the boiler. The risingof float F closes the valve 2; and stops the pump. In

- practice, the Valve would be open more or less and the pump at workconstantly when useing steam. It will be noted that the head 4 supportsthe valve and all the pipe connections except the water-pipe 14. Byremoving bolts 6 6 the shell 2 may be removed and the valve '21 andother parts be handily reached without having to disconnect any pipeother than pipe 14. Of course suitable hand holes in the shell 2 may beused for access to the valve-spindle p and other parts for purposes ofadjustment of the valve, &c.

To provide against dangers resulting from a failure of the pump tosupply feed-water to the boiler, I prefer to have a suitable alarm setto operate when the water in the boiler shall have fallen toapredetermined point. This alarm may consist of and is shown as asteam-whistle W, above and supported by head 4. A pipe 29 connects thewhistle with thepipe 16 within the chamberA,said pipe 29 havingasuitable valve therein, (see V'.) This valve may be similar to thathereinbefore described, the spindle being provided with an arm 30 only.Arm 30 extends over and is preferably bent at its end toward the spindlep in the plane of cam 18, hereinbefore described. It may have a rolleron the end to bear on the cam 18 in certain positions of the parts. Arm30 passes through the slot 24 of tube 25 undera pin or bolt 31, passingthrough the tube. The function of the pin 31 is to push the arm 30downward when the float falls toa predetermined level, (the cam 18 willhave been turned until there is a space between it and arm 30,) thusopening valve V and soundingthe alarm. \Vhen the valve V isopened, thewhistle \V will sound until the cam 18 shall have raised the arm 30.Varning will thus be given of low water in time for attendants toprevent damage or disaster. The top of slot 24 may be used to move thearm 30 in lieu of pin 81.

1t is understood that all joints are calked or otherwise renderedsteam-tight, according to the nature of the same.

The constructions set forth possess some advantages over existingconstructions for similar purposes, among which advantages may bementioned simplicity of construction, absence of stufiing-boxes, fullaccess to the working parts by detaching the shell 2 and flanged ring 5from the head 4, absence of strain on the pump, maintenance of givenlevel of the water, ease of attachment to existing boilers and pumps,and its automatic action. The valves being in the steam-space will Workunder about the same conditions of temperature at all times.

To prevent sticking of the valve, there may be an oil-cup on the pipe 16or on the head 4, with a tube leading therefrom through head 4 to andinto the bearing for spindle pin the diaphragm h. An oil that will beunacted on by steam or hot water should be used.

In case the water-feed is from an overhead tank the pipes 16 17 wouldconnect, respectively, with said tank and the boiler, dispensing withthe alarm and attachments; butI do not recommend such a use of theinvention, as it may involve the introduction of cold water into thesteam-space.

Many changes in details may be made without departing from the substanceof my invcntion.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a feed-regulator, the combination of a casing for containing waterand steam, a float and a valve within the casing, pipes leading to andfrom said valve, and connections between the float and valve, wherebythe latter is operated by the rising and falling of the former,substantially as described.

2. In a feed-regulator, the combination of a shell or casing, a floattherein, steam-pipes passing througha head of said casing, a valveconnected with and supported by said pipes, and connections between saidvalve and float for operating the first, substantially as described.

3. In a feed-regulator and alarm, the combination of a casing forcontaining water and steam, a float and two valves within the casing,asteam-pipe leading to one of said valves and having a branch to theother valve, a pipe leading away from said first-named valve, an alarmconnected with said second valve, and connections between the float andvalves, whereby the last are controlled, substantially as described.

4. The combination of two valves, means for moving them, one in bothdirections, the other in one direction, a cam on the spindle of thefirst of said valves, and connections therefrom to the second of saidvalves, whereby the latter is moved in the other direction,substantially as described.

5. In a feed-regulator, the combination of a casing for containing waterand steam, a float and valves therein, connections between said floatand said valves, whereby one valve is moved in both directions and thesecond in one direction, a cam on the first valve, a connection fromsaid cam to said second valve for moving the same in the otherdirection, and pipe connections to and from said valves, substantiallyas described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in pres ence of two witnesses, this 21st day of March, 1891.

CLAYTON C. FERGUSON.

Witnesses:

PAUL WILcoX, RICHARD W. BARKLEY.

